{"aperture":2.8,"credit":"Christopher Drost\/Torontoist","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","caption":"A new test streetcar leaves the Hillcrest yards as the Toronto Transit Commission commences on-street tests of its new fleet. The TTC hopes to have its new streetcar fleet active by 1st Quarter 2014 with full deployment by 2018.","created_timestamp":1363313936,"copyright":"\u00a9 2012 CJD\/SHiFTdigital","focal_length":"24","iso":"1000","shutter_speed":"0.04","title":"TTC Streetcar"}

{"aperture":2.8,"credit":"Christopher Drost\/Torontoist","camera":"Canon EOS-1D X","caption":"Engineers pore over data streaming from various sensors on board the new streetcar.","created_timestamp":1363315286,"copyright":"\u00a9 2012 CJD\/SHiFTdigital","focal_length":"38","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.00625"}

Quiet and sleek: two words that crossed our minds early this morning, while watching the TTC test its next-generation streetcar on Toronto streets for the second time. The tell-tale hum that accompanies the current fleet has been replaced with, as the TTC’s Brad Ross tweeted during the test, “ghostly quiet.” Like a phantom, the new vehicle seems to glide on air—which matches its sleek, modern appearance.

Rolling out of the TTC’s Hillcrest yard at least 10 minutes ahead of schedule at 2:20 a.m., the training car and its entourage headed south along Bathurst Street. Unlike during its maiden voyage, the streetcar continued beyond Bathurst Station. Its arrival at Queen Street impressed the post-bar crowd. Our photographer observed that excited bystanders were “losing their shit” over the large, slick-looking vehicle.

The streetcar continued on to Exhibition Loop, where brake tests were conducted while Bombardier and TTC employees inside the vehicle observed the results. Several camera-slinging transit enthusiasts magically appeared when the streetcar arrived on the south side of the loop. After some adjustments, the vehicle quietly rolled away, back to Hillcrest.

We’ve got photos above; click through to see a video of the new streetcar on the move.